“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Again, this is the answer Peter gave to about three thousand people on the day of his first sermon. (Acts 2:14-41) We’ve talked about repentance and baptism and what they mean. Let’s see if we can find out just a few things about what Peter means when he says, “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” These are only a few verses, there are many more. Please, do not trust me. Look-up these verses to see if what I say is true.

From Acts 2:38 and Galatians 3:14 we learn the Holy Spirit is a gift. It is not something earned. And that we receive the Holy Spirit through faith.

In John 14:46 we find that God the Father sends the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name and that he is a helper and a teacher.

Mark 12:36 and Acts 1:16 show us that the Holy Spirit has always been used by God to help men know what to say and to inspire them to write down His very word.

Mark 13:11 and Luke 12:11-12 tell us that the Holy Spirit will help us in our gravest trials and still speaks through the mouths of His people.

Acts 1:8 tells us that when we receive the Holy Spirit we gain power to be a witness for God and the gospel.

Galatians 5:16-23 tells us that with the Holy Spirit we also receive His life changing fruit.

Hebrews 2:4 tells us that signs and wonders and miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit are distributed according to God the Fathers will, not according to my will.

Just a few verses that hopefully help us to know what receiving the Holy Spirit means to us, and causes us to want to study further. I have two more. Acts 19:2. Paul asked some people “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Because he asked that, I know we can determine if we have received the Holy Spirit. If you are not sure, or know you have not, please talk to Jason or Eric or Melissa or one of the Elders so we can help you, as Paul helped the people he asked. Because in Romans 8:9 God, through Paul, says if you don’t have the Holy Spirit you haven’t got Christ.